My cottage roof is beginning to bow...I want to shore it up and open the attic for an extra bedroom...should I hire a structural engineer first or a general contractor?
General Contractor. His contact sheet should contain an engineer, for permit filing. For structure and what needs to be done, he should know and be able to advise you prior, during your design phase.
Unless you are having drawings made prior to the hiring, then use the engineer supplied with the drafting.
Search the TrustedPros directory and discover the best contractors in your area.
Find your home service pro